Horse-training harness



(N0 Model.)

W. A. PENFIELD. HORSE TRAINING HARNESS.

No. 540,871. I Patented June 11, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. FENFIELD, or MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

HORSE-TRAINING HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,871, dated June 11,1895.

Application filed December 17, 1894:. Serial No. 532.051. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PENFIELD, of Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Horse-Training Harness; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in'connection with the accompanying drawin gs and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which saiddrawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a top view of the device without the supportingstraps; Fig. 2, an enlarged detached broken view, in section, of one end of one of the adjustable straps and the device for connecting the two ends thereof.

This invention relates to an improvement in horse-training harness, and particularly to those parts which are secured to the legs of the horse, so as to connect them, and guide or compel the horse to .move in the desired manner. In harnesses of this character, itis necessary that a portion should yield to avoid breaking the harness, or throwing the horse in case of sudden change in the character of its movement.

The object of this invention is to arrange an elastic connection so to avoid the possibility of said connection coming against the body of the horse, and it consists in the construction as hereinafter. described and par ticularly recited in the claim.

The particular part of the harness to which .this invention relates, consists of two legstraps A B, adapted to encircle the forward legs of a horse, and two leg-straps O D, adapted to encircle the rear legs of the horse. The manner of connecting the forward and rear legstraps depends upon the object for which the harness is to be employed. If for training an animal to trot, they will be arranged as shown in Fig. 1, in which the strap B is connected with the strap 0, and the strap A with the strap B, but in case it is desired to train the horse for pacing, the strap A will be connected with the strap 0, and the strap B to the strap D, it being understrood the straps are provided with suitable straps to extend over the body of the horse to support the leg-straps in proper position on the legs, it being unnecessary, so far as this invention is concerned, to

illustrate such supporting straps. One of the leg-straps'of each pair, and preferably those for the hind legs, are formed from a tube E, of leather, or other suitable material, onto the ends of which a metallic tubular mouth-piece F, is inserted, and properly secured therein. Extending through the tube E is a coiled spring G, to the ends of which is secured a loop or ring H, and I prefer to form the connection by constructing the loop H with a circular head I, through which is a transverse opening to receive a headed screw J, the screw-threads of which are turned into the ends of the spring G, the coils of the spring entering the threads in the screw, which securely unites the screw to said spring. The loop or ring H is free to turn upon the projecting end of the screw J, and the diameter of the head I, corresponds to the diameter of the mouth-piece F, so as to take a bearing thereon, thus forming a swivel at each end of the rear Iegstraps. The two eyes H of each strap are connected together, and preferably by a double snap-hook K, which may be readily connected with and disconnected from the eyes. Between the hooks is a ring L, to which body-straps M extend, into connection with the leg-straps on the forward legs, the ends of said leg-straps being connected, as above described. It the movement of the horse is regular, the harness does not interfere therewith, but in case of a break the spring G will yield, which virtually extends the strap M, and prevents the breakage of the parts. Atthe same time the said spring exerts a constant tension on the strap M, and hence upon the legs of the horse, until it is again in proper step. It will be understood in some cases that a spring strap upon one leg will be all that is necessary.

To prevent the leg-straps from chafing the legs of the horse, they are preferably covered with sheep-skin, or other equivalent material.

I am aware that horse-training harnesses employing connected leg-straps adapted to engage with the legs of a horse, have been employed, and that springs or elastic material have been inserted in portions of the harness to allow yielding underaccidental strain, and also that draft-tugs, consisting of a spring inclosed within atube, have been used and through the medium of which one end of the leg-strap containing it is connected with one hook of the double snap-hook combined with r 5 said strap, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. PENFIELT).

Witnesses:

THEODORE W. PLUMB, A. L. OTIS. 

